Brother, Can You Spare a Quote?

Becoming a source for journalists has gotten a little easier thanks to Peter Shankman's site Help a Reporter Out. "I built this list because a lot of my friends are reporters, and they call me all the time for sources," he explains. "Rather than go through my contact lists each time, I figured I could push the requests out to people who actually have something to say."

To sign up, all you need to do is enter your name, email address and company name. You'll then receive up to three emails each day, each with 15 to 30 queries from journalists who are working on stories and looking for sources. "If you see a query you can answer," says Shankman, "go for it! HelpAReporter.com really is that simple."

The service is completely free—if users want to make a financial contribution, he recommends donations to animal hospitals or rescue societies, and provides links to a few of his favorites.

Shankman makes only one request of all sources: Don't respond to a query unless you're able to offer something of substance. "If you have to think for more than three seconds," he notes, "chances are, you shouldn't send the response."

The Po!nt: By joining Shankman's service, you're given the chance to make a journalist's story better, and to position yourself—and your company—as a credible expert.

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